Our View: Remembering Bob Buckley

Friends, professional associates and family will gather today in Farmerville to celebrate the life of Union Parish Sheriff Robert G. "Bob" Buckley.

Buckley, 65, died Tuesday at his Linville home after being diagnosed with cancer in May.

After a 22-year career with the Louisiana State Police, Buckley was first elected sheriff in 1990 to fill an unexpired term.

He took over a department with six vehicles, only three of which would start. He built not only a strong sheriff's department, but also a statewide reputation as a leader in the criminal justice community.

He was selected by his peers to head the Louisiana Sheriff's Association and by the governor to represent region 8 for the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

He was also known by his constituents as a caring man with a ready smile and a great sense of humor. Even in announcing to the world that he was taking a leave of absence to undergo chemotherapy, Buckley found a way to joke about it, to take the pressure off the delivery of unpleasant news.

Farmerville resident Janice Odom, whose late husband, Josh, was close friends with Buckley, knew the late sheriff as well.

After Odom's husband passed away in 2011, she said Buckley became a source of support for her in her grief.

"He was always available for a word if I needed it," Odom said.

"Bob was known for his keen intellect," Mancuso said. "He was also known for his ability to find humor in all situations and his compassion for all. Bob not only left his mark on Union Parish but in every corner of our great state."

Ouachita Parish Sheriff Jay Russell said Buckley was a mentor and a friend.

"The law enforcement community will really miss Bob Buckley's leadership, knowledge and friendship," Russell said. "Bob has been a constant source of knowledge for me in my career. I have known him for many years as a state trooper and then sheriff.

"He was especially helpful to me when I worked at the Farmerville Police Department," Russell said. "I wouldn't be where I am now if it wasn't for Sheriff Buckley. I could always depend on him for advice and direction on how a law enforcement officer should serve the public."

Buckley's legacy is a safer and better Union Parish. But it's also a legacy of one man's true commitment to making his corner of the world a better place for many.

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Our View: Remembering Bob Buckley

Friends, professional associates and family will gather today in Farmerville to celebrate the life of Union Parish Sheriff Robert G. 'Bob' Buckley.